Southside Elementary School Naming Process

Proposal # 142

Q. What individuals/groups are proposing the name?
Jessica Tiller

Q. What is the proposed name?
Southside Community School

Q. Which category does the proposed name fall under?
Idea or concept which represents a broadly respected civic virtue

Q. If the proposed name is an idea or concept which is a broadly respected community value, what is the significance of this idea or concept to the Madison Metropolitan School District? For what reason would the Madison Metropolitan School District choose to name a building for this particular idea or concept?
Our name began as Southside and I think there is grace in the community we have already built around this name. By connecting more to we can break barriers around what comes with Southside alone.

Proposal # 144

Q. What individuals/groups are proposing the name?
Title VI Native Parent Committee

Q. What is the proposed name?
Ada Elizabeth Deer

Q. Which category does the proposed name fall under?
Prominent national or local figure who is deceased

Q. If the proposed name is a prominent local or national figure who is deceased, describe why this person is considered prominent. “Prominent” is defined as “widely and popularly known.”
Ada Deer was born in Keshena as a member of the Menominee Tribe. Her mother was a strong advocate for Native American rights, and Deer followed in her footsteps. She was the first Menominee to earn an undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin (UW). In 1961, she was the first Native American to receive an M.S.W. from the Columbia University School of Social Work. Her work on behalf of the Menominee led to the Menominee Restoration Act of 1972, which officially returned the Menominee Reservation to federally recognized status. Because of this accomplishment, Deer became the first woman to chair the Menominee Tribe in Wisconsin.

Her political activism included running for Wisconsin secretary of state in 1978 and again in 1982. In 1992, she became the first Native American woman in Wisconsin to run for U.S. Congress. In 1993, Deer was appointed assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior, as head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs; she was the first Native American woman to hold that position. While in office, she helped set federal policy for more than 550 federally recognized tribes.

Ada Deer passed away on August 15, 2023.

Q. If the proposed name is a prominent local or national figure who is deceased, what is the significance of the person specifically to the Madison Metropolitan School District that it should choose to name a school for this particular person over others of similar prominence?
While living in Madison, as an educator and social worker, she taught classes at the UW-Madison School of Social Work and, in 2000, she became director of the American Indian Studies Program.

In 2018, Deer became the first person to participate in the Culture Keepers/Elders-in-Residence Program at UW-Madison, which seeks to improve the experiences of Native students across campus by building relationships with an older and honored Native leader. Deer also served as chairperson of the Native American Rights Fund and was active in many other community activities.

Because of her groundbreaking accomplishments, Ada Deer received many awards, and in 2019 she was inducted into the Native American Hall of Fame. In 2023, Governor Tony Evers proclaimed August 7 to be Ada Deer Day in Wisconsin.

Proposal # 78

Q. What individuals/groups are proposing the name?
The Family of Lori Mann Carey

Q. What is the proposed name?
Lori Mann Carey Elementary School

Q. Which category does the proposed name fall under?
Prominent national or local figure who is deceased

Q. If the proposed name is a prominent local or national figure who is deceased, describe why this person is considered prominent. “Prominent” is defined as “widely and popularly known.”
Lori Mann Carey (2/27/60–11/16/20) was a beloved force across South Madison and beyond. She was widely and popularly known in many spaces:

1) Madison Treasure - Lori grew up on Madison’s Southside along with her four siblings in a household where education was a top priority and where she was inspired by example to engage with love and purpose in her community. That’s exactly what she did her entire life. . .making a difference everywhere she went. She was a Madison treasure, leader, and education equity champion - and her light continues to shine in hearts and minds across the community.

2) High School Standout – Lori attended Memorial High School where she was voted co-captain of the track team, earning “All American” status as part of the state record-setting mile relay team. She also played varsity basketball where her enthusiasm for others and uplifting words always brought out the very best in her teammates. Her light carried across the student body when school administration, recognizing Lori’s natural leadership and gift of encouragement, invited her to deliver commencement remarks to her classmates at her school graduation ceremony.

3) “Mama Carey” – As a transformative and loving mother, Lori not only embraced motherhood with her own five children, she also brought her good energy and guidance to countless others. Known by many as “Mama Carey,” Lori’s prominence was as a community mom who took to heart the phrase: “It takes a village to raise a child.” She attended parent-teacher conferences with kids who needed support, helped students fill out financial aid forms, wrote letters of recommendation, drove students to/from school, delivered coats for kids in need, helped feed students, and, as many know, was the ultimate cheerleader for student athletes citywide, from ringing cow bells at football games to her “shoot the ball” chants at basketball tournaments. Her wide popularity with students and families across the community came from the respect she earned with her dedication and contributions to so many lives.

4) Parent Leader – A well-known advocate for MMSD students, Lori was asked by Administration to serve on the selection committee for the principal of West High School when there was a vacancy in 2014. She also served on the African American Parent Leadership Council and spoke several times at school board meetings, delivering innovative ideas and finding ways to create lasting change through partnership.

5) Visionary – Lori envisioned and created the non-profit Mission 4.0, an after-school enrichment program that provided students a suite of culturally-sensitive interconnected supports – tutoring, intentional motivational messaging, parent/family engagement, meals, social-emotional learning and educational enrichment activities. The program successfully piloted at West High School for three consecutive years (through June 2018) impacting hundreds of students and families over that time, with a vision to expand to every high school in Madison. The program’s wide appeal came from its non-traditional approach, reaching students participating in after-school extra-curricular activities and inviting all students into the program with no minimum qualifying criteria. The only criterion was to have a desire to achieve academic success.

6) Co-Founder, Mann Educational Opportunity Fund – Lori helped create and served for decades as head of the Mann Educational Opportunity Fund, which was established more than 30 years ago by family, close friends and the community to honor her parents, the late Bernard and Kathlyn Mann. As long-time education advocates in Madison, Lori’s mom and dad were her inspiration to continue their work supporting at risk students across the city. The program typically selects 3-5 MMSD incoming high school freshman each year, primarily students of color, who are supported academically and financially (with a $1,000 annual stipend), with the goal of achieving academic success and high school graduation.

7) Financial Literacy Ambassador – Lori earned a degree in accounting from Florida A&M University and used her expertise and professional experience to boost financial literacy in the community. In addition to teaching “Math of Finance” at Madison College, Lori also spoke at Madison Black Chamber of Commerce events during tax season, providing tips and other literacy basics to the community. Lori served on the MBCC Board since its inception in 2004 and, for a time, served as Treasurer and later, prior to her passing, was the accountant to the organization.

8) Generous Entrepreneur – Lori took up entrepreneurship in 1989, opening TaxMann Tax & Accounting Services and kicking off a lifetime of support to small businesses, non-profits, and the often-underserved community of Madison’s Southside. Her considerate pricing was often “below market” (or free) so that all customers could afford her services, regardless of their circumstances.

Q. If the proposed name is a prominent local or national figure who is deceased, what is the significance of the person specifically to the Madison Metropolitan School District that it should choose to name a school for this particular person over others of similar prominence?
Placing the name of Lori Mann Carey on this school would represent a full circle moment, maybe even a dose of the supernatural. Her connections to the grounds of the new Southside elementary school and the opportunity today to celebrate her there are beautiful. In the fall of 1965, more than 57 years ago on her first day of kindergarten, Lori walked through the doors of the very same building (location) that now houses Badger Rock Middle School and Neighborhood Center. What was then known as Badger Elementary School is where Lori learned her ABCs, spelling and basic math. . .It’s where she played outside on the playground, laughing, being silly and having fun with new friends. . .Most of all, it’s where she had her very first experience with the power of faith. The story, told by Lori repeatedly to her children and loved ones, goes something like this: As part of outdoor gym class at Badger, Lori had to run several laps on the gravel track, timed with a stopwatch. In her struggle to finish the final lap, she wanted to give up, to quit, to walk instead. She said a prayer and just as she was about to stop, she felt God pick her up and carry her over the track to finish her run. In November of 2020, the impact of that childhood experience led Lori back to that very same location. She walked the school grounds before meeting with her doctor about the progression of her cancer. And she said a prayer. . .We don’t know the full content of that prayer but we do know Lori crushed the doctor’s estimate for the number of days she had left, allowing her to receive in her final days an unending outpouring of love that came from across the city and beyond, before she finally became an angel.

Along with Lori’s unique connection to the grounds of the new Southside elementary school, her significance to MMSD cannot be overstated. Here it is in a nutshell:

MMSD Student – Lori attended MMSD schools from kindergarten through her senior year in high school:
Badger Elementary School: 1965–1970 (K – 4th grade)
Franklin Elementary School: 1970–1971 (5th grade)
Lincoln Middle School: 1971–1974 (6th - 8th grade)
Memorial High School: 1974–1978 (9th–12th grade)

MMSD Parent - Contributing, engaging, and advocating on behalf of her own five children (all graduated from West High School), “Mama Carey” also generously shared herself, serving as a pillar of support for all kids, including those who were struggling, hurting and in need of a “safe space” in their educational journey. See previous section.

MMSD Partner – Lori was an enthusiastic partner with the school district as both a parent and innovator. She successfully built relationships based on trust and goodwill, establishing valued partnerships with the MMSD Superintendent, school principals, teachers, counselors, coaches along with Administration collaborators in Strategic Partnerships & Innovation; Grants and Fund Development; and Family, Youth & Community Engagement.

Legacy MMSD Partnership – Lori’s parents, the late Bernard and Kathlyn Mann, deeply valued education with a conviction that all students deserve an education that prepares them to fulfill their goals and achieve a life of purpose. They partnered with Madison’s school district throughout the 60s, 70s and 80s to support that conviction and, when they passed away in the late 80s, family, close friends and the community joined forces to create the Mann Educational Opportunity Fund also known as Mann Scholars program. Under Lori’s leadership, the program has partnered with MMSD since the first students entered the program in 1997.

Lori stated many times that the education equity work to which she committed herself day-in and day-out was guided first by her faith, second by the legacy and values of her parents, and next by a broadly respected community value she supported by example: “To cultivate the potential in every student to thrive as a global citizen by inspiring love of learning and civic engagement, by challenging and supporting every student to achieve academic excellence, and by embracing the full richness and diversity of our community.” These words, purposefully sourced by Lori from MMSD’s strategic framework (released July 2013), informed so much of the work she did in the community.

Lori did more than just grow up in Madison. . .She engaged fully, gave to others and contributed her entire life to make a difference in her community. There is gratitude for the gifts she shared and there is no better way to express it than by lifting her name - a mile from her Southside home to which she walked from school with her siblings - on to the very school where she began her educational journey and first experienced the power of faith. These early life experiences were a “deliverer of destiny” and, says the nominators, may her legacy of transformative community love be reflected on the new Southside elementary school on Badger Road.

Submitted by:
The Family of Lori Mann Carey

Proposal # 7

Q. What individuals/groups are proposing the name?
Kevin Konieczko - homeowner in area

Q. What is the proposed name?
Nine Springs Elementary

Q. Which category does the proposed name fall under?
Place of local significance

Q. If the proposed name is a locally significant geographical site or a place of local significance, what is the significance to the Madison Metropolitan School District? For what reason would the Madison Metropolitan School District choose to name a building for this particular geographical site or place of local significance?
The Lewis Nine Springs E-way runs along the boundary of the neighborhood this new school is being built in. Tying the school (and Badger Rock, to some extent) to this feature also ties it in to the history of the area and the environmentalism that was being espoused with the establishment of the Nine Springs E-way